Well, two can play at that game. I can ignore him, too. I go to my makeup bag and search down to the bottom for my burner phone. I pull it out before slipping away from Tiernan’s room and going back to mine. I lie down on the bed and call my dad. I’d sent him a message right before I posted everything online so that he and my mom were aware of what was going on.
He answers with a sigh. “You’ve made quite a mess.”
“Hi, Dad.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m safe.” He lets out another long sigh.
“Stay put then. I’m going to see what I can clean up.”
I swallow. “What does that mean?”
“It means finishing what you started.”
I sit up. That’s not what I thought he was going to say. To be honest, I wasn't all too sure how he was going to react.
“How?”
“The evidence is there. I’ll make sure the FBI does their job and gets everything they need.” I’m not at all surprised that my father has connections with the FBI or any other government agency. Honestly, I’d be more shocked if he didn’t.
“I’m sorry if I’ve made a mess for you.”
“All I care about is that you’re safe. We’re running out of time. I love you.”
“I love you too.” My dad cuts the call. He really must be scared for me. I think he’s only told me that he loves me a handful of times in my life. Yet tonight he’s said it multiple times in a matter of minutes.
The phone is plucked out of my hand seconds later. Tiernan snaps it in half before dropping it on the floor and stomping on it. I stare up at a very pissed-off-looking Tiernan. The nerve of this guy. He just broke my only connection to my dad, and he’s the one that’s mad?
“Who were you talking to, Daphne?”
I tap my finger against my lips like I’m thinking. I must be out of my ever-loving mind to poke at him, but that doesn’t stop me. He’s got his hands fisted at his sides. He towers over me, but I’m not the least bit intimidated by him. To be honest, I’m more turned on than anything.
“How come you won't tell me anything about you, but you want to know things about me?”
“Who were you talking to?” he asks again. “I won’t ask a third time.” I jump to my feet. Not that it really helps, because he’s still a giant towering over me.
“Why don’t you go back to ignoring me, jerkface?” Damn it. Why can’t I think of anything better to call him than jerkface?
“Ignore you?” He repeats my words as if he doesn't understand me. “You think I was ignoring you?” A burst of laughter comes from him.
I try and creep around him, but in a flash he has me pinned to the wall. My breathing picks up as my nipples tighten. It doesn’t matter what mood I’m in; the second his hands touch me, I am done for. I can’t resist him.
“There’s not a damn thing about you that I’ve ever ignored.” The laughter is gone and is replaced with what seems to be anger. Telling me he wants me, but he hates the fact that he does. Is that what this is? The reason he had dropped my hand earlier? I try to push at his chest, but he grabs my hands and pins them over my head. I stare up at him.
“The phone, Daphne. Who is it that got you to sneak back to your old room to tell them you love them?”
“Oh.” I realize why he’s so mad. He’s jealous. I wet my bottom lip, enjoying that more than I should. His eyes drop to my mouth.
“Doesn't matter. You’re mine now,” he says as his mouth crashes down onto mine.
I try not to think too much about his words. I’ve never really been anyone's anything, truly. I want to be loved, owned by him. Even though I shouldn’t. Something tells me that this all-consuming need has heartbreak written all over it.
8
TIERNAN
Her mouth is more addictive than any of the drugs I used to traffick. One taste and I’m fucking lost. Does she have any idea what a temptress she is? She has to know. This tight little body and the red hair that every man dreams about—Daphne was made to be mastered by a man like me. Scratch that. Just me.Onlyme.